It all started with "The late Stan 'the man' Szelest"

"The late Stan Szelest" (1943-1991) formed his own band in 1958 in Buffalo, New York called Stan and the Ravens. He later played piano in early 1960 in one of Canada's top bands called, Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks.  

This was long before the Hawks became Bob Dylan's backup group, the Band (Robbie Robertson, "the late Rick Danko," Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and "the late Richard Manuel".  When Szelest left the Hawks in 1961 he returned to Western New York and reformed his group, Stan and the Ravens.

"The late Tom Calandra" (bass guitar) and Gary Mallaber (drums) joined Stan and the Ravens after Pete Haskell (bass guitar) and Sandy Konikoff (drums) departed.

Tony Galla (vocalist, bass guitar, harmonica, flute), John Weitz (lead guitar), and Jim Calire (piano/organ/sax/vocals) were in their own band called, Tony Galla and the Rising Sons. They had a regional hit on Swan Records (#4275) in the mid-60s entitled, In Love.  

After Stan and the Ravens split up in early 1967 Calandra and Mallaber joined Galla, Weitz, and Calire in Tony Galla and The Rising Sons. After only a few gigs together they eventually became the house band at the legendary Harry Altman's Glen Park Casino (Inferno).  

Tony Galla and The Rising Sons later changed their name to Raven in 1968 prior to moving to New York City.

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Marty Angelo - discovers "Raven" locally

Marty Angelo first heard Raven (Tony Galla and The Rising Sons) in early 1967 when he played piano and organ in his own band, Shakey's Blues Band. They appeared with Raven at the Grandview Ballroom in Angola, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. This was one of the newly re-formed Raven's first gigs together. Angelo was impressed with their talent and surprised they were not more successful.  

Angelo eventually became Raven's personal manager. He knew in order for the group to truly become a successful band, they needed national exposure. He concentrated all of his efforts to get Raven bookings outside of the Buffalo, New York area and signed to a recording contract with a major record company.  Angelo writes more about Raven in his book, Once Life Matters: A New Beginning. 

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"The late Jimi Hendrix" - discovers "Raven" nationally

Rock and Roll legend, "the late Jimi Hendrix" had a hand in Raven's potential national success. Raven manager, Marty Angelo met him in 1968 while trying to arrange a booking for the band at Steve Paul's Scene in New York City. Angelo personally played Hendrix the same "live" tape recording he later sent to Beatle, "the late George Harrison."

Hendrix enjoyed the tape so much he persuaded the reluctant club owner, Steve Paul (at one time was "the late Tiny Tim's" and Johnny and Edgar Winter's personal manager) to book Raven into his famed nightspot. Hendrix and his business partner, Eddie Kramer, later expressed an interest in producing Raven for their Electric Ladyland Production Company. Angelo writes more about his experience with Hendrix in his book, Once Life Matters: A New Beginning.

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"The late George Harrison" - discovers "Raven" internationally

Raven was first discovered internationally by then Beatle, "the late George Harrison."  In 1968, Harrison was sent a live tape recording of the band by Raven's personal manager, Marty Angelo. Harrison liked the tape and sent a telegram to Angelo expressing his desire to produce Raven for the Beatles newly formed record label, Apple Records. Harrison's interest in Raven is mentioned in a Beatles' tell-all book entitled, The Longest Cocktail Party. Angelo writes more about his experiences with Harrison and Apple Records in his book, Once Life Matters: A New Beginning.

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Raven moves to Manhattan

Raven eventually moved from Buffalo to New York City in 1968 and became the house band at Steve Paul's Scene. They also made appearances in numerous venues throughout the Manhattan area such as:

Bill Graham's Fillmore East, appearing with Procol Harum and The Byrds. 

Andy Warhol’s and Lou Reed's legendary Electric Circus appearing with the Chambers Brothers and free speech and anti-war activists, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. 

Weisglass Stadium appearing with The Rascals, Savoy Brown, and Albert King.

The Singer Bowl Music Festival appearing with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Muddy Waters.

Hunter College appearing with Chuck Berry and Terry Reid.

Village Inn - appearing with Spooky Tooth.

Steve Paul's Scene - various appearances.

The Revolution - appearing with Jethro Tull.

Ungano's Nightclub - various appearances.

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"The late Janis Joplin"

It was at Ungano's Nightclub in New York City in 1968 where the notorious rock legend, "the late Janis Joplin" made her famous attempt to secretly tape record Raven, prior to the group's signing of a major recording contract. Marty Angelo writes more about this experience in his book, Once Life Matters: A New Beginning.

Joplin liked Raven so much that after she split up with her first band, Big Brother and the Holding Company she tried to hire Jim Calire, the group's pianist, for her new band, Kozmic Blues Band. Calire turned down her offer, however Joplin was later convinced to hire "the late Richard Kermode" (1946-1996), one of Western New York's well known and highly respected jazz organists. Kermode went on to become very successful touring and recording with Janis Joplin, Ned Doheny, Jorge Santana's Malo, and Carlos Santana's Santana.  Kermode died of cancer at the age of 49 on Jan. 16, 1996 in Denver, Colorado. 

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National Appearances

Raven traveled extensively throughout the United States, prior to signing a major recording contract. They appeared at various renowned underground concert clubs such as:  New York's Fillmore East, Boston's The Boston Tea Party, Chicago's Aaron Russo's Kinetic Playground, Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, Detroit's Grande Ballroom,  Cleveland's La Cave, Toronto's Rockpile Club,  Detroit's East Town Theatre, Monticello's Revolution,  Philadelphia's Electric Factory, and many others.

Raven also appeared nationwide at numerous other popular nightclubs, colleges, concert halls, and on the prominent television shows, Cleveland's Upbeat and Hershey Pennsylvania's The Show. 

Raven performed at Buffalo, New York's Kleinhans Music Hall in 1970 which was recorded live but never publicly released.

Raven was the one and only "electric" band to ever appear at the original Woodstock Music Folk Festival. 

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Columbia Records

Raven finally signed a five-year recording contract with Columbia Records in 1969 after turning down offers from "the late George Harrison" and Apple Records, Electric Ladyland Productions, owned by "the late Jimi Hendrix" and Eddie Kramer, and T-Neck Records, owned by the popular R&B band, the Isley Brothers.

Raven also turned down an offer from producer Lewis Merenstein, famous for his work with Van Morrison.  Merenstein eventually hired original Raven members, pianist "the late Stan Szelest," guitarist Ernie Corallo, and percussionist Sandy Konikoff for his production of Garland Jeffery's album, Grinders Switch.

Columbia Records' distinguished producer, John Hill was influential in signing Raven to a recording contract. Hill took a special interest in the band and produced their first and only album for Columbia.

Ira Blacker, a popular booking agent working for Associated Booking Corporation and attorney Miles Lourie, also helped solidify Raven's deal with Columbia Records. "The late Bill Graham" (Fillmore East) and Steve Paul (The Scene) played a special role by believing in and booking live appearances of Raven before they even had a major recording contract.

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Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull

Raven became so popular on the East Coast that English bands coming to the United States asked for Raven to open their shows. Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull were two such groups.  

Led Zeppelin's lead guitar player, Jimmy Page stated after a gig they did together in Boston, "Raven's John Weitz is one of the best guitar players in the world."  

Raven tours England

Raven toured England in 1969 and performed at Lyceum Ballroom, Marquee Club, Roundhouse, Bath Pavilion, and various concert halls. 

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Raven calls it quits

The band split up in 1970, walking away from personal five-year contracts with manager Marty Angelo, Associated Booking Corporation, and Columbia Records.

Angelo made an attempt to keep Raven together by negotiating a highly lucrative production agreement with "the late Tony Stratton-Smith," one of England's top rock 'n' roll producers. Raven members turned down Smith's offer to pursue individual careers.

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Raven Reunites

Raven held reunion concerts in Buffalo, New York at the Tralfamadore Cafe on November 19, 1993 and November 29, 1996. Both concerts were digitally recorded. The future of those tapes is unknown. 

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"The late Tom Calandra" (1941-1998)

Tom Calandra (1941-1998) passed away suddenly in 1998. The remaining members of Raven do not plan any additional public appearances together. "I doubt if we will ever play together again as Raven," Tony Galla said. "Tommy was the sound of Raven and without him it will never be the same."

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Discography

Single - Upstate Records (US 600-45)- 1968

A-Side:  There's Nothing Going For Us  (James Calire) - B-side:  I'm Feeling Down (Anthony Galla) - a single, released in Buffalo, New York on Upstate Records (US 600-45). 

The name of the band at the time the song was recorded and released was Tony Galla and The Rising Sons. It was produced at Spectrum Sound Productions (owned and operated by the members of Raven, manager Marty Angelo, and "the late Carl La Macchia").  

Album - Columbia Records (CS 9903)  - 1969

Columbia Records released one album entitled, Raven (CS 9903)

Singles (2) - Columbia Records - 1969 - 1970

A-Side:  Feeling Good (T. Calandra/J. Calire)  B-Side:  Green Mountain Dream (J.F. Calire)

A-Side:  Children at Our Feet (T. Calandra)  B-Side:  Here Come a Truck (J. Weitz) (4-45163 -ZSS 153490). 

Album - Discovery Records (36133) - 1969

Live at the Inferno (Discovery Records 36133) was released shortly after Raven's Columbia album. This album was recorded live in 1967 on a two-track professional tape recorder at the world famous nightclub, the Glen Park Inferno.  

This album was produced from the same tape Raven manager, Marty Angelo sent to "the late George Harrison" and the one "the late Jimi Hendrix" listened to at Steve Paul's Scene.  It was not officially released until critics and band members complained they did not like the "studio sound" of the Columbia LP.  Many preferred the live raw energy sound Raven displayed while onstage so the group decided to release Live at the Inferno.

The album was mainly distributed locally in Buffalo, New York on Discovery Records.  The group brought 50 Inferno albums with them on their British tour and gave them away to disc jockeys, nightclub owners, and fans.  

Neither Raven album was officially released in England. Columbia Records (UK) did release the single: Children at Our Feet.

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IMPORTANT NOTE

Live at the Inferno (Discovery Records - 36133)

IMPORTANT NOTE:  When searching for Raven's Live at the Inferno album (Discovery Records - 36133) please do not confuse the "American" band Raven with the "British" band The Raven, who also has an album entitled, Live at the Inferno (Mega Force Records - 1984 release). How or why this happened is unknown.  

The "American" band Raven formed in the mid '60s. The "British" band The Raven formed in the late '70s.  

When "American" band Raven toured England in 1969, they brought with them 50 copies of their Live at the Inferno album (Discovery Records - 36133). This might be the connection to the "British" band The Raven getting the idea for their name and similar "live" album title.

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Stan and the Ravens

"The late Stan Szelest" (1943-1991) - piano, harmonica and vocals.

Sandy Konikoff - first drummer.

Chuck McCormick - first lead guitarist.

Ernie Corallo - second lead guitarist.

Charles 'Rebel' Payne - first bass guitarist.  He also played with Ronnie Hawkins.

Peter Haskell  - second bass guitarist.

Frank Mahaney - third bass guitarist.

Nick Salamone - sax and flute player.

"Stan Szelest was a living fountain of rock and roll piano, a one-of-a-kind player. His prescence, the way he could play piano, was overwhelming. I tried to play what Stan was doing with his left hand. I wasn't stealing. I was learning. One night, Stan gave me a look while I was copying him. He stared at me with a super-conscious look in his eye - and magic! - all of a sudden I got better at doubling his left hand. He had transmitted some powerful force to me. Stan could just give it to you if he wanted."
"The late Rick Danko" - Lead singer. Bass, violin, guitar - The Band

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Don't Bother Knockin... This Town's A Rockin... - This book is based on the Buffalo, New York music scene. Unfortunately, it contains incorrect Raven history but is still considered a very informative book on many other aspects.

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Special Mentions

Other Rising Sons - Mike Bell (piano) - Fred Meyer (drums)

Graphic Design - Columbia Records Raven album:  Billy Moore.

"The late Paula Marie Gugino" (1951-1998) - photographer and layout designer of Raven's Live at the Inferno album.

"The late Billy Bosworth" and "the late Eddie O'Shea" - special friends and former road managers.

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Forevermore...

"Like Poe's bird, Raven is surrounded by spiritual ties . . . Five musicians who have found themselves through their music and continually search for the complexity of sounds through simplistic roots.  I've only known the men who call themselves Raven for a very brief time, yet, through their music and their minds, I've known them now and forevermore."   

Murray S. Krugman (quote - liner notes - Raven - Columbia Records)

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